(In this post Wil Cifer presents his list of the year’s best black metal albums.)

At this point half the bands in metal today are trying to be blackened something, so here are the top ten black metal bands, that aren’t death metal bands trying to grim it up or post- rock bands with some anguished screams mixed in… these are all bands that are so pure… so cold. The cream of the crop this year came from not only Norway, but also France, Canada, Sweden, Chicago, and the Deep South. So here we go…

10-Taake – Stridens Hus

Hoest descended from the first wave of Norwegian black metal and has been going strong since the 90’s. Stridens Hus doesn’t break that trend. On the first few listens it seemed like he was relying on blast beats, but this album grows on you. There is less experimentation this go-around — it’s in your face all the way through. For a one-man show, every element holds its own. There is no question here as to whether Hoest has earned his corpse paint.

9-Nocturnal Depression – Near to the Stars

Quality Depressive Suicidal Black Metal wasn’t exactly flourishing this year, but this French project featuring one of the members of Make a Change Kill Yourself brought a healthy dose of despair. Despite the lo-fi production, this album carries the drone of Burzum while wallowing in the futility of its existence.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJZelWAisT4

8-Wormreich – Wormcult Revelations

This is the band’s first release on Moribund Records, and you would never guess from the dark depraved tornado of chaos invoked on this album that these guys are from the Deep South. Beautifully dissonant and chillingly dynamic; my only regret is that I haven’t been able to give this one more spins. I suppose it’s cool they threw a Deathspell Omega cover on here. I really want to hear more of what these guys are capable of conjuring on their own.

7–Thantifaxath – Sacred White Noise

Seeping with angular weirdness, this Canadian band might be the most unique group on this list. This album is more of an exorcism that explodes into your ears rather than a barrage of blast beats. However, the ugliness and anguish secures its place in the genre and even broadens the scope of what black metal can be while staying true to itself. It’s experimental but without getting lost in lazy hipster formlessness.

6-1349 – Massive Cauldron of Chaos

This album reaches down into the band’s dirt bag of influences and pulls out many razor-sharp thrash riffs that are delivered with enough hatred to burn a church down. This album shows that black metal can still be a feral beast while wrapped in catchy songs. They even nail a Possessed cover to the cross. They dare you to press play and not headbang.

5-Sado Sathanas – Nomos Hamartia

Plenty of epic excursions litter this folk-tinged album, but it doesn’t distract these German black metallers from staying the course. They get how to be an atmospheric black metal band without sacrificing the balls that make this black metal to begin with. This album covers a wide range of sonic landscapes, and it goes to show that you don’t have to stoop to “necro” production in order to make quality black metal.

4-Ellorsith – 1959

There is a smattering of death metal about this Scottish band’s concept album about the Dyatlov Pass Incident, but it’s so raw, cold, and oppressive there is still no question this is black metal. The death metal aggression is blended perfectly, so you are never left wondering if the blast beats are just an afterthought. This was released on a very limited cassette run, so you know it has to be cvlt as fuck.

3-Nachtmystium – The World We Left Behind

OK, we get it, Blake Judd has drama. He may or may not be a scumbag. This is about music, so I don’t care. In fact, I prefer my rock stars to be strung out on drugs. Black metal needs more junkies pouring their souls out, if this is what it brings. This album has all the elements that made Nachtmystium great — the creepy melodies slinking in dark alleys, the lyrics written during self-destructive binges. If this is Nachtmystium’s final album, then it was a good note to end on.

2-Mayhem – Esoteric Warfare

If Mayhem had tried to make another De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas it would have bored the bullet belt right off me. Instead, they released an album with pristine production, one that takes chances and takes no prisoners. Attila has never sounded better and Hellhammer makes his case (again) for being the best drummer in black metal. As Spinal Tap once asked, “How much blacker can you get?” The answer was none then, and it is none now.

1-Nasheim – Solens vemod

The Swedish act is another one-man show. The mastermind behind this is Erik Grahn. He has come out the gate on his first full-length and kills it. This album sweeps you away, combining the lush romanticism of Emperor, atmosphere, and incredible arrangements. My only regret is not finding this masterpiece when it came out under the radar back in February.

13 Responses to “WIL CIFER’S TOP 10 BLACK METAL ALBUMS OF 2014”

Nachtmystium is a bold choice for any top 10 list. I don’t recall seeing it make anyone else’s list. I thought it was good (good enough for me to purchase) but not great. For my personal tastes, it falls behind the likes of Agalloch, Ifing, Falls of Rauros and Blut Aus Nord though.

I for one am happy to see Nachtmystium get some much deserved praise for the new album. I’ve been a big fan for awhile and each album has a fresh take on their sound; this one is no different. Also, I like that Sado Sathanas album and probably should have listened to it more throughout the year.

I liked the new Mayhem, but after repeated listens, I started to sour (just a little). I hear way too much of an attempt at times to write same type of riffs that Blasphemer would have written if he were still in the band. The riffing in “Watchers” sounds way too much like Thorns’ “World Playground Deceit” for me to be able to enjoy. The bass playing in the middle of “Posthuman” made me think of “Another One Bites the Dust” by Queen, if only for a second. But it was enough to ruin the mood of the song. This being said, it’s still good. Just not my favorite of theirs.

Solid picks. I remember seeing a good review of Ellorsith in Decibel that piqued my interest, but seeing more support for it in this post and its comments – plus the fact that it’s name-your-price – might finally get me off my ass to give it a serious listen.

Probably the only list I will see for 2014 (as it’s now Jan) that includes, as mine did, that Nachtmystium album.
Everyone was so hung up on who made it (probable scumbag) and not the wonderfully infectious and almost catchy “final” record that was made. Cheers to that then.

I ask for forgiveness in advance if by ignorance and plenty of good intentions i am violating any possible rule forbidding posting links in here.
i am just curious to share with more people the delight i am experiencing going throught this youtube list that i found with the best 100 black metal album of 2014..
a very mature list, has the obvious ones (most of which absent on Cifer’s list but i say this with zero hard feelings as it may had happened because of “taste” or unawareness..); and a shit load of magnifiscent surprises.